Freeze Tag

(For Ages 3-10)

Ingredients:

At least 4 people

Designated area for play

Prep Time:

5 minutes

Recipe for Fun!

Freeze tag is a fun, fast version of the classic kids game of tag with simple rules. However, the rules of freeze tag are different than a traditional game of tag in one important way. Rather than one player being “it”, there are two players designated as “it” from the start working as a team to freeze the rest of the players.

A tip for parents when setting up freeze tag and explaining the rules to kids: demonstrate how the kids who are playing should tag each other using a light touch. Let the whole group know that hitting and punching are not tagging or freezing. A good rule is that if a kid is playing too rough, they have to sit out for one round.

Also, whether the kids are playing freeze tag in the house or in the yard, it’s a good idea to set up boundaries around the game zone and make entering certain rooms or leaving the outdoor boundary an automatic “out”.

Here’s how to play freeze tag!

Pick two players to be “It”.

When the game starts, these players give chase to the other participants who are not “it”.

The people who are “it” have 3 minutes to work together and try to tag and freeze the other participants.

When the player who is “it” tags another player, they tap them and say “FREEZE!”

The participants who are not “it” need to run, dodge, and hide from the players who are “it”. They also unfreeze other participants who have been frozen by tapping them and saying “UNFREEZE!”

The game is won either by the people who are “it” when they have frozen all other players, or it is won by the “not it” participants when 3 minutes have run out and at least 1 player is still unfrozen.

Can you play freeze tag indoors? Yes! Freeze tag is a great play idea for bored kids on a rainy day since it is just as fun to play the game indoors as it is to play it in the backyard. Freeze tag is also a good birthday party activity since it is an easy to learn, fast, fun game for all ages.

What do kids learn from playing tag? Freeze tag, like all variations of tag, teaches emotional resiliency, problem-solving skills, social skills and also helps kids build physical skills like coordination, gross motor skills, and balance. Tag is also a good way for kids to learn self-control and how to communicate effectively with a team.

How old should kids be to play freeze tag? It’s a great game for kids of mixed age groups to play. Little kids can learn how to follow rules, and older kids can learn to exercise patience when including younger kids in the game. It’s also a good game for families.

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